Thailand Immigration: TM30 24 hour reporting thread

[handdrummer]

If you ignore reporting a trip within the country, how will they know?

[Governor]

If you ignore reporting a trip within the country, how will they know?

If their system picked up the fact that a hotel in another province had reported a stay, I suspect that would happen though as for one, I don't believe their database is very joined up, and for two they may need to interrogate the system, which I suspect they wouldn't, or couldn't.

[handdrummer]

If you ignore reporting a trip within the country, how will they know?

If their system picked up the fact that a hotel in another province had reported a stay, I suspect that would happen though as for one, I don't believe their database is very joined up, and for two they may need to interrogate the system, which I suspect they wouldn't, or couldn't.

I was thinking more along the lines of staying at a friends house in another province.

Then there's the fact that no one has ever been notified that they had to complete a TM30 form. If I didn't read this forum I wouldn't know anything about it. It's never been mentioned at an immigration office.

Sometimes the Thai inefficiency works in our favor.

[buksida]

“It’s really not that hard” – panel discussion on Thai immigration form TM30
A panel discussion about the controversial TM30 form was held yesterday at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok.

The panel line-up included Sebastian Brousseau from Isaan Lawyers who has been involved in the recent online petition which called for TM30 to be abolished. Also Richard Barrow, blogger and long-term expat, made a presentation calling for “clarity and consistency” in the enforcement of TM30 around the country. Chris Larkin, director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Maj. Gen. Patipat Suban Na Ayudhya, Head of Immigration Division 1 were also on yesterday’s panel.

Invited Immigration Oficer Pol Col. Thatchapong Sarawannangkul had the line of the day in his opening comments about filing a TM30 form saying it was “really not that hard”.

Audible gasps of either faux or real shock were heard around the room.

The officer went on to say that immigration is trying to make it easier for people and urged them to make use of the TM30 website and mobile App. But many in the room complained that people who had registered for the online services were having to wait up to six weeks for a username and password when trying to use the App.

Pol Col. Thatchapong said that some of the delays were put down to “technical problems”, and because some of those people who had registered for the service had not submitted the correct documentation.

He also hammered home the point that the main reasoning behind the TM30 form was “national security and it was needed in order to fight terrorism and other crime”.

Pol Col. Thatchapong stressed that the Immigration Bureau in Thailand is here to help people and that TM30 helps keep people in Thailand safe – including foreigners.

But there were also suggestions how TM30 could be more effective and less inconvenient.

Chris Larkin suggested that immigration should make the pink ID card more accessible to foreigners and that it could potentially be used as a replacement for TM30, TM28 and TM47 (90 day reporting).

Maj. Gen. Patipat Suban Na Ayudhya said the feedback from the event would be passed onto his superiors at Thai Immigration.

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/ ... -form-tm30

Right, its not that hard if you live five minutes away from the office and have nothing better to do with your time.

[Big Boy]

Regarding the online registration, once she agreed, the registration process for Mrs BB was very smooth (although the air was blue when I initially realised we didn't have a username and password). Username and password were received the next day.

Unfortunately, the reporting process was impossible because we couldn't get past question one - 'date of departure'. I honestly can't say when I'll be out of province again. I simply nipped out to Immigration instead.

[lomuamart]

And what did Imm say about that? "Doesn't matter. Put anything down?"

[Big Boy]

It isn't a requirement on the paper TM30 (or if it is, we left it blank) - I will confirm in a few minutes.

[Big Boy]

As I thought, not a requirement on the paper copy. Joined up Thailand again

[Governor]

I applied for online registration last weekend, still waiting for a password and user name.

A mate of mine went to Chaengwattana this morning following his return from KL yesterday, a 90 drive and received queue number 148 having arrived fairly early, after processing his "honey I'm home" report, having of course given his address, where he's lived for for the last fourteen years, on arrival at Suvarnabhumi yesterday, the IO noted that he travels to KL every couple of weeks, she advised him not to report his return again, "just pay a 800 fine at your renewal".

Whilst of course whilst a 800 fine is far preferable to 3 hour round trip drive every couple of weeks coupled with the waiting time in CW, it's indicitive on how ridiculous and meaningless this whole debacle is, but having read the feedback of the meeting, it's quite obvious they're not for turning.

[Big Boy]

At least at Hua Hin there is a dedicated window, and absolutely no waiting. Of course, that may change if somebody other than me starts doing as they're told

[buksida]

Whilst of course whilst a 800 fine is far preferable to 3 hour round trip drive every couple of weeks coupled with the waiting time in CW, it's indicitive on how ridiculous and meaningless this whole debacle is, but having read the feedback of the meeting, it's quite obvious they're not for turning.

Exactly. If the fine is only 800 baht once a year, it is way preferable to spending thousands on fuel and wasting countless hours and days reporting every time you need to fart.

[Governor]

At least at Hua Hin there is a dedicated window, and absolutely no waiting. Of course, that may change if somebody other than me starts doing as they're told

Is that at the main office, I went to Bluport when I returned from my in-country trip, and they told me a report wasn't required.

[HHTel]

Did my renewal of extension to stay (retirement) this morning. In and out in 20 minutes, including wait time.
Handed over my docs "TM7?"..... "What's that?"......."Application form"......"No, sorry"....... "It's okay. I'll print one off"
Printed off the application duly filled in by the computer and I just signed it.

There was no mention of a TM30 or having to report back in 3 months with my bank book. I did spend some time in Ban Phe, Koh Samed and Pattaya a few weeks ago.

We are lucky that Hua Hin immigration do possess some common sense. Never had a problem there in all the years I've been here.

[Big Boy]

At least at Hua Hin there is a dedicated window, and absolutely no waiting. Of course, that may change if somebody other than me starts doing as they're told

Is that at the main office, I went to Bluport when I returned from my in-country trip, and they told me a report wasn't required.

Yes.

[Scout]

Unfortunately, the reporting process was impossible because we couldn't get past question one - 'date of departure'. I honestly can't say when I'll be out of province again. I simply nipped out to Immigration instead.

I would think that “date of departure” referred to the date you previously departed, not the date of a future departure. Is there anything else on the form that makes you think they are asking about a future departure ?